History

The Order of the Croatian Star (Danica) with the effigy of Katarina Zrinski was established on 10 March 1995.

Danica or Morning Star. Danica is a term used in Croatian as the name of an order, the badge in a shape of a star, as well as, the term use for the star that is constituent part of some grand orders and orders and which corresponds to the star of the decorations of some other nations.

Katarina Zrinska, born Frankapan (1625 – 16 November 1673) was a Croatian literate.

The Order of the Croatian Star with the effigy of Katarina Zrinski is awarded to Croatian and foreign nationals for extraordinary service for health care, social welfare and the promotion of social moral values.

The badge of the Order of the Croatian Star with the effigy of Katarina Zrinski is an eight-pointed star with silver rays, 55 mm in diameter.

Centered on the star is a gilded medallion, 25 mm in diameter, with the effigy of Katarina Zrinski, a historical personality from Croatian social life, symbolizing activities in which the decorated persons have distinguished themselves.

The medallion with the effigy of Katarina Zrinski has the shape of a heart and represents Petar Zrinski’s wife and Fran Krsto Frankopan’s sister. Katarina Zrinski is holding a shield with the historical Croatian coat of arms; there is sea in the background. To the right of the design is the inscription: “KATARINA ZRINSKI”.

On the reverse of the badge is the inscription „REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA“ encircled by three-stranded braiding, a screw with a nut for fastening the badge and original number of the Order.

The small decoration ribbon of the Order of the Croatian Star with the effigy of Katarina Zrinski is a 35 by 14 mm ribbon made of silk moire rep in the colours of the national flag (red – white – blue) with the attached forging of the medallion of the Order, 13 mm in diameter.

The miniature of the Order of the Croatian Star with the effigy of Katarina Zrinski is a miniaturized forging of the badge of the Order, 17 mm in diameter, suspended from a 12 mm wide ribbon in the colours of the national flag (red – white – blue).

The basic design for the Order of the Croatian Star was furnished by Stipe Sikirica.

The medallion with the effigy of Katarina Zrinski was designed by Mladen Veža.

The Order was made by IKOM, Zagreb, Croatia.

The box for the Order is blue with the golden Croatian coat of arms and inscription written in two lines „REPUBLIKA HRVATSKA” on the cover of the box. On the inside of the cover of the box, on white silk, is inscription written in gold in two lines: „RED DANICE HRVATSKE“.

When the Order of the Croatian Star is presented, beside the decoration itself the written certificate is also given. The certificate is signed by the President of the Republic of Croatia.